3 Songs Proving Jimmy Buffett is Way More Than Just Margaritas and Cheeseburgers

Jimmy Buffett has been and always will be a staple of beach culture. Most likely, if you’ve been anywhere around a beach you’ve probably heard one of his tunes ring out over the speakers while you take in the salt and the sand. Buffett leaned into this persona by releasing songs such as “Margaritaville,” and “Cheeseburger In Paradise.” However, the man contains multitudes and his songs and sentiments go far beyond the beach.

It’s a bit of shame that following Buffett’s death, he seemingly was only remembered by the masses for his vacation anthems. Well, prior to this label Buffett embraced, the man was as good of a songwriter as anyone in the business. Buffett was far more than margaritas and cheeseburgers, he was a wordsmith toiling with notions of the everyday joe. Here are three of his songs that showcase his talents.

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1. “Pirate Looks at Forty”

Now, this is another nautical-themed song. However, the nautical theme Buffett embraces is no more than an external package revealing the hardships of an old soul. Yes, I am a pirate, two hundred years too late / The cannons don’t thunder, there’s nothin’ to plunder / I’m an over-forty victim of fate / Arriving too late. Is the premier message of Buffett’s tune.

In essence, “Pirate Looks at Forty,” isn’t about pirates at all. It is about a man who is looking for a world and a vocation that no longer exists. The song is riddled with the pain nostalgia ensues, and how in a new and everchanging world there is no place for an old soul. For things move too fast for people holding onto the past.

2. “West Nashville Grand Ballroom Gown“

A ballad about a move from riches to rags, Buffett’s “West Nashville Grand Ballroom Gown,” is a tune about the need for liberation. The protagonist is a female from the upper echelon part of Nashville who turns to a life of wandering. Twenty-two years in societies plan and I don’t have much money but I still get around / I haven’t made church in near thirty-six Sundays, are the lyrics making this tune a generational anthem.

Outside of the fact that Buffett is not interacting with his typical literary landscape, the song is a testament to his ability to capture the feelings of certain demographics in America. In a way, “West Nashville Grand Ballroom Gown,” is a song that reminds folks of Buffett’s literary depth.

3. “Peanut Butter Conspiracy“

Arguably one of the oddest songs in his catalog, “Peanut Butter Conspiracy,” is a tune about Buffett’s early career. We were hungry hard-luck heroes / Tryin’ just to stay alive and So who’s gonna steal the peanut butter / I’ll get the can of sardines are some of the highly specific lyrics that tell a very personal story about an experience countless people have undergone.

It’s funny, clever, and true. What more can you ask for in a song? Buffett really outdoes himself with this one, as he encapsulates a type of pathetic outlaw persona that subverts a typical country western tune. Now, who knows if he did this on purpose? However, that is another great element of Buffett’s songwriting—he gives folks’ imaginations the ability to run in any direction they please.

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